BARNSLEY Hospice’s cafe at Mapplewell and Staincross Village Hall will close at the start of next month.

The cafe opened at the venue back in November but bosses confirmed this week that due to a lack of profitability it will close on April 2.

A spokesperson said: “We opened the café as part of our commitment to finding new and innovative ways to raise funds to secure the future of hospice care in our town.

“However, like any new business or project, it has always been our intention to review and evaluate its success to determine whether the café was a viable long-term option for the hospice.

“As a charity, we are committed to transparency and ensuring that we make the best decisions to generate the required funds to support our services.

“After reviewing the data available, it is apparent that the café has not been profitable in the way we initially hoped, despite proactive steps taken over the last few months to address this.

“We need to raise around two-thirds of our running costs each year, and we will continue to allocate our resources most effectively to deliver the specialist compassionate care we are proud to provide for our community.

“Our heartfelt thanks go to our staff and volunteers involved in the set-up and running of our café, and everyone who has supported it since we opened.

“We would also like to acknowledge Mapplewell and Staincross Village Hall for their support throughout this venture.

“We will continue to operate the café over the next month and hope you will join us for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake or two.”